Capital Report: 05-11-2012

The longtime director of Florida A&M University's famed marching band has resigned. The move comes after the arrest of 11 people in the hazing death of a drum major. It also comes as separate investigations continue into the band’s finances. WFSU sat down with White Friday, a day after the announced he was permanently stepping down. Lynn Hatter prepared this report.

President Barack Obama’s decision to come out for gay marriage is drawing the expected praise and criticism – depending on who you ask. From member station WUWF in Pensacola, Dave Dunwoody reports that mixed reaction is also being seen at the grassroots level.

The Florida Supreme court is considering what some call the most important foreclosure case in the country. Regan McCarthy reports the justices are looking into whether banks should be allowed to re-file a case, if the lawsuit they originally filed used fraudulent documents.

A 300-thousand dollar campaign is underway to educate Florida voters on the importance of knowing all the facts before they elect appeals court judges as well as Supreme Court Justices on the November ballot. But, as Sascha Cordner reports, the initiative to let educate people about merit retention elections comes just as conservative opposition is mounting against three Supreme Court Justices.

While many parts of Florida’s economy remain somewhat sluggish, there’s one area that’s going great guns. Tom Flanigan reports it’s the state’s number one industry – tourism – and things are expected to keep getting better….